Yes, keeping bees is permitted in Singapore, but subject to stringent biosecurity and urban planning controls enforced by the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), now integrated into the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) post-2019 restructuring.
Beekeeping is legal only under SFA’s Urban Beekeeping Guidelines, which mandate hive registration, disease surveillance, and compliance with the Control of Plants Act to mitigate risks to biodiversity and public health. The 2026 National Parks Board (NParks) Biodiversity Blueprint further tightens oversight, requiring beekeepers to adopt integrated pest management (IPM) protocols and avoid native stingless bee species (e.g., Tetragonula laeviceps) without special permits. Violations may trigger fines under the Environmental Public Health Act or mandatory hive destruction under the Animal and Birds Act.
Key Regulations for Keeping Bees in Singapore
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Mandatory Hive Registration: All beekeepers must register hives with the SFA’s Animal Health & Welfare Branch, providing location coordinates, colony size, and species details. Unregistered hives face immediate confiscation under the Control of Plants Act (2006, amended 2023).
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Species Restrictions: Apis mellifera (European honeybee) is the only permitted species for commercial beekeeping. Native stingless bees (e.g., Tetragonula spp.) require NParks-issued Endangered Species Permits due to their ecological sensitivity, as per the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act (2008).
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Biosecurity & Disease Protocols: Beekeepers must adhere to SFA’s Beekeeping Code of Practice, which includes quarterly inspections for Varroa destructor mites and Nosema spores. Non-compliance results in hive quarantine or culling, with costs borne by the owner under the Animal and Birds Act (1953, revised 2021).